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Risk factors associated with birth defects at a tertiary care center in Pakistan

Mohammad Zeeshan Raza1, Asfandyar Sheikh, Syed Salman Ahmed

  • 1Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.

Italian Journal of Pediatrics
|December 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Birth defects affect 4.1% of infants, with eye and urogenital system defects being most common. Maternal, socioeconomic, nutritional, and educational factors influence occurrence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Medical Genetics

Background:

  • Birth defects are congenital conditions impacting infant morbidity and mortality.
  • Identifying risk factors is crucial for prevention and early intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the association between specific risk factors and birth defects in pediatric patients.
  • To investigate the prevalence and types of birth defects in infants presenting at a tertiary care hospital.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, cross-sectional study design.
  • Data collection through infant and maternal interviews at Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Inclusion criteria: infants with at least one birth defect; exclusion: infants without mothers.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of birth defects was 4.1% (669 out of 16,394 infants).
  • Common defects involved the urogenital system (19.9%) and eyes (16.9%).
  • Other significant defects included musculoskeletal (12.9%), body wall (12.3%), oral cavity (12.1%), and central nervous system (10.9%).

Conclusions:

  • Eye and urogenital system defects are the most prevalent birth defects observed.
  • Maternal, socioeconomic, nutritional, and educational factors are key influences on birth defect occurrence.
  • Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing these risk factors.
Abstract

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